Five Marriage Takeaways From First Lady Michelle Obama's DNC Speech

I was awe-struck after First Lady Michelle Obama’s speech at the Democratic National Convention earlier this week. She delivered her message with such grace, class and passion that I could feel it through the car radio. ( I was on the road traveling ..but I was able to hear/feel her speech.) And whether you are a republican or a Democrat, you have to admit that she delivered one of the best speeches ever given during a national convention…hands down.

And what resonated with me the most was her dedication to her family. Our First Lady told us that first and foremost ..she was “Mom in Chief”and she wanted to ensure that being in the White House did not have any adverse effects on her children or her marriage.

At the end of the day, Michelle Obama (our First Lady) was a woman that was on that stage to support her husband. And, if you know anything about Lamar and me, you know that we believe that when husbands and wives work together they can achieve any goal they set out to meet and they can overcome any obstacle that comes before them. And over the last four years, Barack and Michelle Obama have been shining examples of what a married couple that works together can accomplish.

Here are a few other other marriage takeaways that I took from our First Lady’s speech on Tuesday night:

Continue to Have Date Night 1 of 5

Our First Lady told us that she and President Obama still have date nights. And she kept it real too: "and a date night for Barack and me was either dinner or a movie, because as an exhausted mom, I couldn't stay awake for both." I thought I was the only one that was too tired to do both dinner and a movie! You should see Lamar and me struggling to stay awake at the movies on our date nights. LOL.
Takeaway: It's important (no it's imperative) to have quality time with each other on a regular basis. You need to set aside time to just enjoy each other and strengthen your bond. Credit: Official White House Photo by Pete Souza

Remember Why You Fell in Love in the First Place 2 of 5

Our First Lady told us that her husband was still the guy that picked her up in a rusted out, old car. He was still the guy that was so proud to have a coffee table that he found in the dumpster. And he was still the guy that cared about helping people more than making a large salary. Those are the qualities that caused her to fall in love with President Barack Obama..and those are the things that she still sees in him to this very day.
Takeaway:
Take some time to reflect on the positive things about your marriage and remember why you fell in love in the first place. This will help to put things into perspective when you and your spouse are stressing over the minor issues and annoyances in marriage. And it will help to get you through the tough times that make you question if it is all worth it.
Credit: Official White House Photo by Pete Souza

Through the Ups and Downs, They are Still Standing 3 of 5

"Well, today, after so many struggles and triumphs and moments that have tested my husband in ways I never could have imagined, I have seen firsthand that being president doesn't change who you are it reveals who you are."
Takeaway: One of the joys of marriage is being able to support each other in times of need. The Obama's have seen many struggles and they have been tested. But through it all, they are still standing together.
Credit: Official White House Photo by Pete Souza

They Know the Importance of Family Time 4 of 5

Our First Lady shared that they eat dinner together as a family almost every night: "That's the man who sits down with me and our girls for dinner nearly every night, patiently answering their questions about issues in the news, and strategizing about middle school friendships."
Takeaway:
No matter how busy you get, it is important to be "present" for your family every day (or as many days as you possibly can.) Being present, means blocking out time to spend with your family and during that time you should "be in the moment and focus on the here and now." We know that the President has the weight of the country on his shoulders...but he still finds the time to focus on his wife and daughters.
Credit: Official White House Photo by Pete Souza

They Continue to Grow in Their Marriage 5 of 5

"And I didn't think it was possible, but today, I love my husband even more than I did four years ago…even more than I did 23 years ago, when we first met."
Takeaway: As the years go by, you should continue to grow in your marriage. You should see some growth in the way that you communicate with each other, in the way that you disagree with each other, and in the way that you love each other. If you are willing to work for it, you can be just as excited to see each other and just as in love with each other as you were when you were first dating.Credit: Official White House Photo by Pete Souza

What takeaways did you get from the First Couple? Do you think that they provide a good example of marriage?

Use a Facebook account to add a comment, subject to Facebook's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Your Facebook name, profile photo and other personal information you make public on Facebook (e.g., school, work, current city, age) will appear with your comment. Learn More.